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Rook’s lips firmed and he continued to watch long into the night. The only incident that garnered a second look occurred when Jarad’s uncle, Fyin, stumbled and almost knocked a drab dark-haired woman from her chair. Her large ears had flushed bright red in embarrassment as one of the men at the table caught her before she fell.
At that point, Fyin was escorted out while he loudly proclaimed he needed more alcohol. Afterward, the music increased and the House of Oolun pretended nothing was out of order.
Finally, the event ended and Rook released a soft sigh as the last guest left. Jarad stood alone at the center of the now empty room and rubbed his hands together. “Well, looks like you did your job. The assassin was too afraid to show or couldn’t get through your security measures.”
Of course he wouldn’t thank them. He’d shown no courtesy or respect for their positions.
The team gathered around and waited for their next directive. Rook inclined his head and forced a congenial expression to his face. “We’re glad we could help, Councilor Oolun.”
Jarad smirked. “Maybe the Alliance insisting you all wear those uniforms wasn’t a bad idea. I’m off to do a little work in my office and see how much revenue was generated today then call it a night. Make sure your team gets something to eat.”
He paused and winked. “Sample the ladies. I can attest to their skills.”
Rook barely managed to control his sneer. As soon as Jarad disappeared through the doors with four guards around him, Hahn spoke. “Is it wrong I wished for him to fall over dead in his soup bowl?”
Instead of answering him, Dorian frowned. “I felt certain Tempest would make a play here tonight. It was the perfect opportunity. The crowd, the confusion. The large scale of the event alone would have fit her normal pattern.”
Except she wouldn’t follow her normal pattern here. Not after what happened the last time.
Hahn brushed a hand through his dark waves and glanced around the empty banquet room. “I don’t know. Maybe Jarad’s right and the security deterred her from making an attempt.”
It didn’t sit well with Rook. Something still felt off but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “Let’s regroup in our room. We’re too exposed out here.”
Back in the tight confines of the space they’d been assigned, Rook commed Kyele.
“What about a delayed poison like benzphate?” Kyele asked.
“We’ve checked with Jarad’s security and had his medics run an emergency tox screen. Oolun complained about the hassle but agreed. It came up clear. His assistant has his eye on Jarad and said he’s at his desk working,” Rook reported.
On the holo screen, Kyele crossed his arms over his chest. Brow lowered, he spoke his thoughts aloud. “It would seem our intel may have been off. If Tempest has truly been thwarted and no longer considers Jarad Oolun a viable target, I can’t see a need for you to say. Unless there is more.”
He raised the inflection of his voice on the last. Rook studied his teammates’ faces to see if they had anything to add. Hahn shrugged while Dorian and Kjar shook their heads.
Kyele turned to Rook. “Then we’ll consider this mission over. Ghost Unit can return to base on Enotia. The Alliance assures me they’ll leave their security in play around the building to watch over Jarad for now. ERS will utilize the information he’s given them to pursue their own interest in that regard.”
“Affirmative, Unit Leader.”
Kyele’s holo ended and Rook sighed. He slumped back against his bed, weighed down by emotional fatigue and the pressure of worrying about Seraphina’s arrival. He’d been sure he could identify her and prevent any attack on Jarad. But none of the guests tonight had registered as a threat.
“What do you think, Rook?” Hahn asked from his place sitting on the floor with his back to the frame of his bed. “Do you believe Tempest gave up or plans to go after Jarad later?”
Easy. “If she goes after him later, it’s out of our hands. You heard, Kyele. Ghost Unit’s part in this is over. It’s all up to the Alliance now. We’ve done our part.”
The corner of Hahn’s lips curved up. “Happy we didn’t have to face her. I would never say it to anyone, but ending someone like Jarad isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
“That’s not our call to make,” Dorian said.
Rook held his silence. He was torn and had been from the beginning because of his involvement with Seraphina. As a result, his judgment was impacted. Truthfully, he should have shared that with Kyele. Feelingswereinvolved as his Unit Leader had implied.
And feelings made everything different.
Undoing the ropes that bound his hair, Kjar asked, “I’m more interested in what time we’re leaving.”
“Now would be great,” Hahn cut in with a meaningful look around the room they shared.
Snorting, Rook said, “I’ll noti—”
An explosion rocked the building, cutting off his words. Dorian and Hahn leaped to their feet. Kjar cursed and reached up to braid the loose sections of his hair quickly. Rook went to the door and opened it. Another boom shook the floor and he gripped the door jamb to maintain his balance.
